The American Dental Hygienists’ Association (ADHA®) has announced its 2026-2027 Board of Directors, the first full board to be seated under the governance model adopted by the association in July 2025. Jessica August, MSDH, RDH, CDA, FADHA, has begun a one-year term as ADHA’s 100th president.
“I’m incredibly proud of what this moment represents for ADHA. This board brings together talented leaders from across the profession who share a commitment to serving our members and moving dental hygiene forward,” said Jennifer Hill, ADHA’s chief executive officer. “I look forward to partnering with them as we continue building a stronger future for our association.”
August, of Yakima, Washington, serves as assistant dean of allied dental education programs at Yakima Valley College and has been an ADHA member and volunteer at the local, state, and national levels.
Additional officers for the 2026-2027 term include Christina Emmert, RDH, PHDH, PRP, FADHA, of Rockford, Illinois, as president-elect, advancing under ADHA’s new presidential line of succession in which the vice president automatically transitions into the role; Jody Berinato, RDH, BS, FADHA, of Parkville, Maryland, as vice president; and Laura I. M. Green, RDH, M.Ed., FADHA, of Sandy, Utah, who moves from director to treasurer.
The board’s directors-at-large are Jennifer Avery, RDH, MPH, CDHC, of Benton, Arkansas; Amanda Berthiaume, MSDH, RDH, CDA, FADHA, of Springfield, Massachusetts; Leciel Bono, RDH-ER, MS, EdD, FADHA, of Aberdeen, Idaho; Maureen Brown, BSDH, MS-HIED, RDH, of Rockwall, Texas; Shawna Greer, RDH, MDH, FADHA, of Humble, Texas; Hali Householder, RDH, COM®, BSPH, FADHA, of Greenwood, Indiana; and Laura Vanderwerf, BSDH, RDH, EPDH, CDA, FADHA, of Cornelius, Oregon.
According to the association, this is the first board selected through ADHA’s new process, which replaced the House of Delegates. Rather than electing representatives by geographic district, board candidates applied directly and were evaluated based on professional qualifications and organizational need. Under the association’s bylaws, the board may include up to nine directors-at-large.
The governance changes also allow any ADHA member to submit policy and bylaw proposals to the board throughout the year instead of waiting for an annual delegate meeting. ADHA stated that its mission to advance dental hygiene, support its members, and protect oral health for the public remains unchanged.
According to the association, ADHA represents the professional interests of more than 220,000 dental hygienists in the United States. The organization also publishes the Journal of Dental Hygiene, a bimonthly scientific journal.
More information about the association’s leadership is available at https://www.adha.org/bod.
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